Big III form team to hold talks with disgruntled groups

KATHMANDU: The three major political parties on Monday formed a three-member committee to hold talks with the agitating Madhesi parties and others in a bid to resolve the ongoing unrest in various Tarai districts politically.

A meeting of top leaders of Nepal Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist, held at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar, formed the panel comprising Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation Mahesh Acharya from the Nepali Congress, Chief Whip of CPN-UML Agni Kharel and an yet-to-be-decided leader from the UCPN-Maoist.

The committee is expected to bring the disgruntled sides, including Madhes-based parties and Tharu groups, to the table for talks. The parties have been waging agitations in various districts across the southern plain to protest various provisions, including number and boundaries of provincial units, in the new Constitution.

"A committee has been formed to resolve the political differences with agitating parties," said CPN-UML senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal emerging from the meeting.

The former prime minister asserted that the newly promulgated Constitution incorporates many provisions protecting the rights of all sections of population.

Responding to queries of journalists whether the leaders discussed an amendment to the new Constitution, he said nothing as such was discussed today.

Nepali Congress senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, said the committee was formed to resolve the agitation in various districts in Tarai.

He expressed his belief that the talks would come up with solution to it.

NC President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and the UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal were also present in the meeting.